HAVING been reared in a Baptist Sunday School and a member of Orthodox Churches for nearly thirty-five years, conservatism entered largely into my religious life. But when what was termed Christian Science first came to my notice, about nine years ago, I desired to look into it. Doing so I found it was not, as I feared, some harmful ism, but the Truth, of which I wished to know more. But those proclaiming it were of the class that did not recommend the reading of "Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures," although using it themselves. Some two years later, unexpectedly, a copy of the thirty-second edition came into my possession, which I read with mingled feelings of awe and incredulity.
Some of it I felt must have been written under Divine inspiration, while other portions, not understood, and being contrary to my theological beliefs, were like a bitter pill, which I could not swallow. After a time the book was laid aside and almost forgotten, until sixteen months ago, when, failing to get relief from pain with various medicines which I had taken almost daily for two years, I was one day thinking of God's power to heal, when Science and Health came to my mind with such force that I searched for and found it, and began reading, being thrilled with the thought that its author was inspired, and yet much of it I did not understand. Having heard of a practitioner of this city who was one of Mrs. Eddy's students, I went to him for treatment, and was in one week so helped that I felt I had a new lease of life.
I purchased a small copy of Science and Health, and carried it with me every day to read as I had opportunity, and have found it a treasure, throwing light upon the Scripture not before understood, also enabling me to demonstrate over some physical claims. But not until about three vveeks ago did I realize of what value it was to me, or how surely I believed it to be given of God.
